The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) will welcome
19 filmmakers from 13 African countries to the 11th edition of Talents Durban,
which takes place from July 20 to 24, 2018, during the festival.
This five-day development programme presented in cooperation
with Berlinale Talents, an initiative of the Berlin International Film
Festival, is made up of workshops, masterclasses and seminars for African
filmmakers, delivered by film industry professionals and academics.
Talents Durban attracted over 250 applications from 30
countries throughout the African continent. Participants were carefully
selected by an independent, international, womxn-led Talents Durban alumnae
selection committee, with four animation directors, six directors and six
screenwriters chosen, and a further three film critics chosen for the Talent
Press programme.
The Talent Press, which is a programme to mentor and develop
reviewing skills of emerging film critics, is presented in cooperation with
Fipresci, an association of national organizations of professional film critics
and film journalists from around the world, which lobbies for the promotion and
development of film culture.
The film-makers from South Africa participating in this
year’s Talents Durban include Aliki Saragas; Howard Mashilo Nthite; Jessie Zinn;
Mlingane Dube, and Tokoloho Masemene.
The rest of the film-makers from around the world are Amjad
Abu Alala (Sudan), Brian Gitahi (Kenya), Comfort Arthur (Ghana), Desiree
Kahikopo (Namibia), Emamodeviefe Edosio (Nigeria), Glele-aboucha Cornélia
(Benin), Mandimbijaona Andriamaharo Razafimanantsoa (Madagascar), Matamba
Kombila (Gabon), Nildo Essa (Mozambique), Oluyomi Tolulope Ososanya (Nigeria),
Oualid Khelifi (Algeria), Sade Adeniran (Nigeria), Sejang Otumile Tumi Sejoe
(Botswana) and Tafadzwa Tarumbwa (Zimbabwe) and
Participants will interact with over 600 delegates from the
DIFF and Durban FilmMart, the co-production and finance forum that takes place
from July 20 to 23 during the festival. The Talents will also participate in
several project-oriented, hands-on skills development programmes. These
practical development programmes within Talents Durban include Story Junction,
masterclasses, and one-on-one mentorships.
The participants will be able to further develop their film
projects through mentorships and expert-guided Project Labs. Sixteen projects
will have the opportunity to join Durban FilmMart for a two-day preparatory
workshop, followed by two days of public pitching, round tables, and individual
meetings.
Story Junction is a platform showcasing projects linked to
the festival. Talents will present their project at Story Junction to peers and
industry delegates. Delegates will be able to request meetings with
participants whose projects they wish to engage with further.
Participants will have access to film screenings, industry
masterclasses, panel discussions, festival functions and events of the Durban
FilmMart.
“We are very pleased to have such a diverse range of Talents
for our 2018 edition,” says Chipo Zhou, Manager of DIFF. “This is a brilliant
programme for the development of film-makers, which the many alumni across the
globe can attest to. Here, not only are they able to learn and gather knowledge
through the formal programme, but it is a great place to connect with film-makers
from other countries, network and share ideas. The value of this for continued
and future collaboration is immeasurable.”
Talents Durban is one of 7 Talents International Programmes
formed by Berlinale Talents in Africa and around the world including Talents
Beirut (Lebanon), Talents Buenos Aires (Argentina), Talents Sarajevo
(Bosnia-Herzegovina), Talents Tokyo (Japan), Talents Guadalajara (Mexico) and
Talent Press Rio (Brazil).
Talents Durban is supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Film
Commission, Goethe-Institut SA, German Embassy in South Africa, National Film
and Video Foundation and Gauteng Film Commission.
The 39th Durban International Film Festival (July 19 to 29, 2018)
is organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal,
with support from eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, the
National Film and Video Foundation, German Embassy, Goethe-Institut and a range
of other valued partners.
For more information go to www.durbanfilmfest.co.za
Posts
